HAMILTON – The Raiders scored two goals in the second period to defeat RIT, 4-2, for the second consecutive day.
Colgate improves its unbeaten streak to 11 games, the best in program history.
For the first several minutes of the game, Colgate came out firing but could not find the back of the goal. The Raiders recorded three shots on goal within the first seven minutes compared to none by the Tigers.
Just when it looked like defenses would rule the game, Anonda Hoppner recorded her third goal of the season just seven minutes into the first period to give Colgate the 1-0 advantage. Annika Zalewski collected a pass on the right side of the ice and tapped a short pass to Jessie Eldridge, who then skated in front on the goal. With three defenders crashing in on her, she had a spectacular backhanded pass to Hoppner, who tapped the puck in past goalie Jenna de Jonge from right beside the net.
Only one penalty was called in the first period, a tripping penalty on Shannon Ormel with just under four minutes remaining in the period. RIT registered only one shot on goal during the power-play, so Colgate escaped unscathed.
The first half of the second period was quiet from both teams, with the defenses stifling any opportunity either had to score. RIT was called for a tripping penalty at 8:12, but was able to kill off the penalty to keep the game within one.
After another RIT penalty on Christa Vuglar for hooking at 10:42, Colgate began their second power-play opportunity of the game. Less than a minute into the penalty, Labbe skated the puck from the back of the net around the boards and brought it to about ten yards out, where she fired a hard slap shot past de Jonge to give Colgate the 2-0 lead.
The Tigers were called for another penalty with eight minutes remaining in the second period and once again, Colgate capitalized.
Shelby Perry had the puck on the left side of the ice, just in front of the blue line and found Zalewski in front of the net. Zalewski passed back to Lauren Wildfang who fired a slap shot from just in front of the blue line into the top right corner of the net. This goal was Wildfang’s fourth of the season and put the Raiders up 3-0.
The Raiders once again outshot RIT in the second frame, 20-6.
Colgate had one power-play opportunity early in the third period, but could not capitalize on it, keeping the score at 3-0. With 13 minutes remaining in the third, RIT got one back, cutting Colgate’s lead to two. Kathryn Kennedy stole the puck from Vandyk behind Colgate’s net and backhanded it into the goal to cut the Raider lead.
The last half of the final period was a tough battle, with each team refusing to give the other any ground. But Colgate was able to sneak another goal past the RIT defense to make the game 4-1. Bailey Larson scored her fifth goal of the season after Cat Quirion collected the puck on the left side of the boards. Quirion then backhanded the puck a short distance to Perry. The junior fired across the ice to Larson who was waiting on the right side and she shot into the top left corner of the net, past de Jonge.
RIT did have two power-play opportunites in the final six minutes of the game, but Vandyk came up with four huge saves in the final minutes to keep the game at 4-1.
The Raiders are back in action next weekend when they face Yale and Brown on for league games on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s matchup is set for 6 p.m. and Saturday’s is at 3 p.m.
Bottom Line
– Colgate 4, RIT 1
Won-Lost Records
– The Raiders improve to 10-0-1 on the year, extending their unbeaten streak to a program-long 11 games.
– The Tigers drop to 1-11-0 in their 2016-17 campaign.
Key Raider Info
– Zalewski led the Raiders with two points on the afternoon, finishing with two assists.
– Labbe recorded a goal in the game, her fifth of the season and her fourth in the past two games.
– Hoppner, Wildfang and Larson each pitched in a goal of their own to help boost Colgate’s offense.
– Eldridge extended her point streak to seven games with her assist.
– Perry, Quirion and Sullivan each dished out an assist as well.
– Vandyk notched 18 saves to secure the Colgate victory.
Inside the Box Score
– The eleven-game unbeaten stretch to start the season tops the Raiders’ previous mark of five games in both the 2003-04 season and 2015-16 season.
– This also marks the longest unbeaten streak overall in program history.
– The Raiders outshot the Tigers 42-19.
– Colgate went 2-5 on power-play opportunities, while RIT finished the afternoon 0-3.
– The Raiders won 28 out of 50 faceoffs in the game.
Up Next
– The Raiders are back in action next Friday and Saturday for a home series with Yale and Brown.
– Colgate faces Yale at 6 p.m. on Friday night in the Class of 1965 Arena.
– The Raiders hold the 14-12-4 series advantage over the Bulldogs.
– The squad then faces Brown at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
– Colgate holds the 16-11-3 series lead against the Bears.
– Live stats and video will be available for both games.
